After a long silence, Ixion frowned deeply.

“What did you say, you ugly thing?”

Blink blink.

Ruatisha innocently closed and opened her big, moist eyes.

“Tsk.”

Ixion turned his head with an annoyed expression.

“I lost my mood.”

As he turned around, Ares spoke up.

“Ruru, do you like your older brothers?”

“Yeah!”

Of course.

Her older brothers were handsome and kind.

Ruatisha nodded her head and Ares reached out to touch her cheek.

It was a very gentle touch.

His thick eyelashes cast deep shadows on his eyes.

Underneath them, his red irises twinkled strangely.

A soft smile.

“My little sister is so cute.”

“Thank you! Ares is really cool!”

‘A handsome brother who is a fool for his younger sister is really the best!’

Ruatisha clenched her fist.

She felt like she was being stabbed by a sharp gaze as she tried to foster a sibling bond with Ares.

“I don’t like it.”

Ixion, who had been staring at Ruatisha, left with those words.

‘Hmph, I don’t like you either.’

Ruatisha also glared at him without backing down.

Even though it was behind his back.

‘If it wasn’t for the quest, I wouldn’t even care!’

Ruatisha snorted and turned her head sharply.

Instead of the completely unlikable Ixion, she saw Ares’ friendly face.

“I can see that your hair is a mess from the wind. You must have been cold, my sister. Let’s go inside and have some hot cocoa.”

…Come to think of it, Ares isn’t that great either.

‘Not for my heart!’

Ruatisha smiled widely and held hands with Ares.

“Yeah! I want to eat cookies too!”

* * *

– Ongoing Quests
1. ?The Path of a Kind Reader (1)?
2. ?My Fortune Never Stops! (1)?
3. ?You Must First Manage Your Household (1)?

Sigh.

I was lost in thought as I looked at the quest list.

‘For now, I can’t complete number 1 because I don’t have enough cash.’

Number 2 was about starting a business, so there’s nothing I can do right away.

‘As expected, number 3 is the one to tackle first.’

Above all, there’s a penalty for failing that could ruin my life.

‘I have to be recognized as a member of the family by Ixion.’

“Finally, the time has come.”

I put my hands on my hips and raised my chin confidently.

Who am I!

I’m a heavy reader who has read countless romance fantasy novels!

I even received a star rating request from the gods for achieving the most best comments!

…Never mind whether they were real gods or not.

“It’s time to show my true colors!”

Teasing my tick-tocking¹??? describes someone who’s upset at you or upset about some situation but try not to show the feeling, but still act like an unhappy person. older brother and making him a fool for his younger sister.

It’s a very classic scene in romance novels!

Of course, it’s a favorite of mine as a romance-fantasy reader!

Ixion just tick-tocking, but it’s not a problem!

Among the older brothers in romance-fantasy novels, there are plenty of crazy ones!

Well, of course, I’ve never actually teased a tick-tocking older brother.

‘But books are like a first-hand experience!’

The countless romance novels I’ve read will guide my way!

I put my hand on my waist and shielded my eyes from the shining sun.

It seems like my future is as bright as the sun!

‘The best thing would be to summon the abilities of heroines who are masters of teasing their older brothers.’

Unfortunately, it was impossible now because I didn’t have enough cash.

Still, the abilities I have now are nothing to sneeze at.

‘Besides, I know all the basics!’

1. No matter how much my unlucky tick-tocking older brother pushes me away, I won’t back down.
2. The more he sees me, the more he’ll like me. I’ll try to show my face as often as possible.
3. You can’t spit on a smiling face. If I smile, good luck will come. Even if I’m angry, smile!

“……”

It seems a bit weird when I summarize it.

Will this really work?

“No, no! This is a romance-fantasy novel world, not anywhere else! It’ll be fine.”

…Will it really be okay?

I clenched my fist and gathered my weakening heart.

I will follow the teachings of countless romance-fantasy novel heroines!

* * *

Plop.

Plop plop plop.

Plop plop plop plop plop plop.

“Ugh, so noisy!”

Ixion turned around behind his pack and became irritated.

“Yeah, but Daddy said I should wear these. The duchy’s castle is too big.”

Ixion’s face fell at the thought of his father’s command that could not be refused.

“Why are you following me?”

Stwp.

Ixion took a step closer to me and put on a sly smile.

“You know what? The person who protects you, Ares, isn’t here right now.”

His red pupils became dangerously dark.

At the same time, a black shadow began to ripple behind Ixion.

“The only one in Phaeraton who wasn’t born with magic.”

His tone is light, almost like he’s singing.

“They say your weak and fragile body can’t handle a magic.”

He has a mischievous smile, as if playing a cruel prank.

“I wonder how much you can endure.”

In contrast, the magic he emits is so violent that it could turn the world upside down.

In the face of the heinous energy rising like a black tidal wave, I was nothing but a tiny creature.

My life was so faint that it seemed to go out with a single breath.

But.

[Ixion is pleased.]

[Ixion is interested in the reader.]

[Ixion wonders if the reader will hesitate to speak, scream and run away, or cry and beg for mercy.]

The status message that has been popping up since earlier reassured me.

Honestly, even when I read the message, I’m not sure what’s going on in that young man’s head.

‘But one thing is for sure.’

He has no intention of harming me right now.

The black tidal wave fell over my head.

Through the black waves that covered my vision, I saw Ixion’s face.

Like a child pouring water into an ant hole, he looked forward to my reaction in terror.

His innocent yet cruel face.

I grinned and met his eyes.

The moment Ixion’s gaze wavered, the darkness engulfed me.

[Ixion is confused by the reader’s reaction.]

[Ixion doubts the reader’s mental state.]

[Ixion feels restless.]

With the notification that Ixion was restless, the darkness receded.

In the bright world that reappeared, a completely bewildered boy was visible.

A little boy.

I’m an older sister is on my second life anyway.

Do you think I’ll just let a little kid scare me?

Especially to the guy who was determined to laugh at me when I was trembling.

‘This older sister won’t get played as you please.’

You’re the one surprised, not me!

Eat this!

“Ixion, are you going to play with me?”

I grinned and shouted, “Kyaa!”

“Huh?”

“I know! We’re playing tag, right? Since Ixion caught me, I’ll be it this time?”

I reached out to the magic that was slowly retreating.

It doesn’t matter if I touch it anyway, since it’s not an attack magic. I was fine when I was devoured earlier.

“What?”

Ixion took a step back.

Hehe, he’s surprised. He’s panicking.

It takes a hundred years to make fun of an adult, you brat!

“I got you!”

I laughed heartily while hanging on to the magic.

“This time, I’ll catch Ixion instead of the magic! I’ll be it again!”

[I think Ixion believes you and flowers will go well together.]

[He’s especially confident that they’ll go very well if worn in the hair.]

Anyway, I ran around trying to catch Ixion.

Plop plop plop plop!

Ppyopyopyopyopyopyopyo.

Ixion’s face wrinkled as he heard the aggressive sound ringing with each step.

“You might—.”

Beep.

I ran like a wild animal and my foot wobbled.

‘Ah! I’m going to fall!’

I tightly closed my eyes.

But the pain I expected didn’t come.

Instead of my nose hitting the ground, a strong arm caught me.

“…I knew this would happen.”

I heard a low voice in my ear.

I opened my eyes slightly and saw Ixion looking at me with a pitiful face.

Oh, I only thought he was a naughty kid…

‘Maybe he’s not that bad…?’

[Ixion questions why he caught you.]

[Ixion feels extreme discomfort.]

‘No! Cancel the ‘not that bad’ thing!’

When Ixion tried to throw me away, I hugged him tightly and laughed.

“I got you!”

“You think I’m going to let you do what you want? Hmph!”

Ixion blurted out, frowning as he looked down at my smirking face.

“You look weird.”

Weird-looking! To a kid!

I smiled even brighter and wrapped my chubby arms around Ixion’s neck.

I’m not trying to strangle him or anything.

Ixion’s face wrinkled up like a prune.

“You…”

“Ixion is so strong!”

Ixion quickly lifted me up and put me down.

I pretended nothing happened and waved my arms in the air as if it was a game.

“Higher! Sparkle, sparkle!”

Hahaha, I didn’t really strangle him.

That’s just because of the mood.

As I glanced down, playing hard to get, Ixion looked at me with a puzzled expression and muttered.

“……What the hell, what’s wrong with you?”

This naughty kid!

* * *

Recently, Ixion has been hearing the sound of someone following him wherever he goes.

Plop plop plop.

Plop plop plop.

It was amazing how well she could walk on those little legs.

Ixion, who was walking briskly, stopped suddenly.

He couldn’t hear the plopping sound anymore.

Even though he thought he didn’t care, he turned around for no reason.

A pitiful fluff was talking to a servant.

‘Why are you laughing like that?’

Anyway, it was an annoying kid. It didn’t seem like a particularly interesting story, but she was laughing like that.

She paid no attention to the person she should be annoyingly following around.

Even if she cries her eyes out after losing him, it’s useless.

After finishing the conversation with the servant, the fluff looked this way and waved her hand with a big smile.

Ixion turned his head with a disgusted expression.

‘Weird kid.’

All weaklings turn pale blue and shivered like vultures when they saw him.

As Phaeraton and an incompetent person who wasn’t born with magic at that, a weakling like hwe shouldn’t have even had the chance to face him.

But…

“I got you!”

A laughing face.

Chubby arms that hugged his neck tightly.

“Ixion is so strong!”

The child was warm.

She felt surprisingly light, and it seemed like he could easily push her over with just a little force.

“……”

Ixion moved his feet, as if shaking off the strange feeling that rose up in his chest.

As he walked away briskly, the plopping sound began to ring out.

‘It has nothing to do with me.’

Ixion walked faster.

Then the plopping sound became more urgent.

Plop, plop plop plop ppyopyopyopyopyopyopyo—.

Eventually, Ixion stopped walking.

When he turned around, the fluff was rolling again.

‘Annoying, seriously.’

Even though he thought that way, Ixion skillfully caught the falling Ruatisha.

“Ixion!”

He couldn’t understand what’s so good about it, but ugly one smiled broadly again.

He definitely has a problem with his head.

With confidence, Ixion put down Ruatisha.

The child’s face looking at him was puzzled, as if she had read that something was wrong with his head.

‘But that’s not possible.’

Ixion warned Ruatisha.

“Don’t follow me.”

This time, she seemed to have heard his words properly, and there was no plopping sound.

But soon, as if noticing something, the plopping sound came and then started to walk gently.

Ixion frowned.

But he slowed down as he heard the plopping sound getting faster and faster.

‘Annoying. Annoying. Annoying.’

“Ixion, am I annoying?”

Suddenly, the fluff came beside him and asked.

“Annoying.”

“I want to get along well with Ixion.”

Ixion turned his head to look at Ruatisha.

He wanted to get along well with him.

It was the first time he had ever heard such words.

He couldn’t understand it at all.

Just as Ixion was about to say something,

“Ruru.”

The moment she heard the voice, Ruatisha turned around quickly.

“Dad!”

The Duke of Phaeraton swept her up in his arms and pulled her into a quick embrace.

Ixion watched the scene as if he was witnessing a supernatural phenomenon.

It had been over ten days since he had been seeing this sight, but he still hadn’t adapted to it.

“Dad, are you done with work?”

“Not yet.”

“Then we can’t eat together?”

Ruatisha asked with a sulky expression and watery eyes.

Duke Phaeraton tapped his daughter’s cheek.

“There’s time to eat nom nom with Ruru.”

…Nom nom?

Did I hear that wrong?

Maybe my ears are bad because of that annoying fluff.

Ixion denied his own cognitive abilities.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Whether it was true or not, Ruatisha and Duke Phaeraton played happily in their own world.

Ixion watched them silently.

He felt strange. It was a feeling he had never experienced before.

It was like a annoying bug had crawled into his stomach…

“Were you with Ixion?”

“Yes!”

“…I hope he didn’t bother you.”

Duke Phaeraton’s gaze turned to Ixion.

He had received reports that last time Ixion used magic towards Ruatisha, and there was a collision with Ares.

“I’m not really doing anything to harm Ruatisha, but.”

Lately, they’ve been sticking together too often, haven’t they.

Ixion closed his mouth tightly when he received Duke Phaeraton’s gaze.

He had nothing to say even if Ruatisha accused him of harassing her.

It was true that he had intimidated her several times using magic.

But then it happened.

“No!”

Ruatisha puffed up her cheeks and shouted back.

“He didn’t bother Ruatisha!”

Ixion looked up and looked at Ruatisha.

“I played with Ixion!”

“Played?”

“Yeah, it was fun!”

Ruatisha answered with a big smile to Duke Phaeraton’s words.

Ixion couldn’t understand it.

‘Being with me is fun?’

Duke Phaeraton looked down at his youngest daughter.

His gaze was different from a moment ago.

Then his lips moved.

“…More?”

“Yes?”

“More than being with Dad?”

“……”

“……”

Ruatisha and Ixion’s hearts matched for the first time.

As if to prove that they were siblings, both of them looked at Duke Phaeraton with the same expression.

• 1
  ??? describes someone who’s upset at you or upset about some situation but try not to show the feeling, but still act like an unhappy person.